Blessed are you, O GOD, O Eternal Mercy, and woe to us who cannot welcome mercy in our hearts and in generosity to others. Blessed be the strangers who bear grace. Blessed are you, O GOD, O Delightful Joy, and woe to us who cannot dance & whirl without the highs of risk or consumption.… Read More
Saturday Prayer – Berries in Winter
For berries in winter, we praise your name, oh Creator of all things. For the miracle that is their rich color, taut skin, juice in each bite. For berries in winter, – and every gift that comes unexpectedly deliciously delightfully out of season – we praise your name, Oh Creator of all things. Amen. ________________________________________________________________… Read More
Friday Festival: After Valentine’s Day
Whether you love Valentine’s Day or despise it, it echoes through our culture, and the feelings linger on even when the day is past. Our bloggers are looking past the flowers, and past the pressure to be a perfect couple, past the teddy bears and the emphasis on romantic love to something deeper. This day… Read More
RevGalBookPals: Far More Terrible for Women
Reading is an exponential activity. In a linear activity, when you finish A, you can proceed directly to B and then to C. In an exponential activity, completion of A leads to a directional dilemma between A 2.0, A2, or B. Reading spreads out in all directions and it only occasionally loops back on itself… Read More
Ask the Matriarch: Some Things We Regret
What is a RevGal Matriarch? Our Matriarch panel is composed of clergywomen with at least 10 years of professional church leadership experience. With experience comes . . . well . . . all kinds of experiences. Take heed as the Matriarchs to reveal how their regrets have made them better pastors. Dear Matriarchs: As you… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Planted
Y’all. I’m scheduled as a guest preacher this coming Sunday … I’ve already submitted my texts from the RCL, sent a sermon title and some hymn ideas … already drafted an outline … but lo and behold! today as I reflect on Sunday’s RCL readings, I’m struck by an entirely different theme. Oy. And so the… Read More
Sunday Prayer: Six Wings
With two they covered their faces; Interrogate the ways we watch the world, O Holy Magnificence, for too often we hide the eyes of our hearts from the blaze of your love as it is at work on earth as in heaven; too often we watch with cynicism, judgment, and self-interest. Now cover our sinful… Read More
11th Hour Preacher Party: Gnarled and Twisted Edition
I don’t know about you, preachers, but my mind has a few too many things going at the same time, and my thoughts are all scrambled and twisted up, like the roots on this overturned tree. Let’s see if we can help each other clarify and refine those twisted up ideas. Narrative Lectionary and Revised… Read More
Friday Prayer: Be Still
“Be still,” You say, as a thousand questions come to mind, and my prayer time is jumbled and lost in a sea of worry. “And know,” You remind me, as I question my motives, and feel doubts creep up and rock my boat. “I AM,” You whisper, when my memories of yesterdays and uncertain tomorrows… Read More
Ordiversary Party: February!
Happy February, friends! We are in that part of the year where we know the cusp of a new season is just around the corner, but we’re not quite there yet…hang on! To help you cope, this month’s ordiversary party is a special one—a decade party! Holly Smith, who is kicking off the party, has… Read More